6 Tips for the Exhausted Entrepreneur

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve likely been overwhelmed a time or two. After all, no one is as passionate about your business as you are, and entrepreneurs have been known to work crazy hours every week just so they can avoid working for someone else!

Of course, all that responsibility and the never ending to do list can wear on a person over time. So, if you’re feeling exhausted, below are 6 tips to help rejuvenate you.

1. Build a Tribe

The very best thing an entrepreneur can do for the health of their business is to get a tribe. Entrepreneurs do well when surrounded by other entrepreneurs. Not everyone understands why someone would spend so much time creating the perfect social media strategy, but entrepreneurs get it. You need fellow entrepreneurs in your life to talk to about your ideas and aspirations. You also need them there when you need a pick me up.

2. Take a Day Off

Again, entrepreneurs are known for never taking time off work. Many of them work every day, even on the weekends. You should take one day off though every week and by a day off, I mean stepping away from your phone and computer entirely. It’s too easy to plug in and check email, which can keep your mind off of relaxing, so do yourself a favor and make sure you give yourself some time to recharge.

3. Work on Sleep Hygiene

Before you go to sleep, turn off all screens at least one hour before going to bed. Try to stretch or meditate to clear your mind. Make sure your room is a good temperature and put on a fan or sound machine to try to drown out your thoughts. Sleep is so important for someone to think creatively and have a great work day. Whenever I get a good night’s sleep, my work is better and I complete tasks faster.

4. Change Your Work Space

If you’re self employed, you can pretty much work anywhere you want. If you’re exhausted or uninspired, change up your workspace. Work in a local coffee shop or co-working space. If you prefer to work from home, get organized and clean your desk. Buy a few new file folders or some new pens. Make it a place you want to sit down and get things accomplished.

5. Bribe Yourself

If you want to take a break, buy a candy bar, or watch a TV show but you have a ton of work to finish, bribe yourself. Tell yourself that if you finish a certain number of tasks, you’ll get a reward. It might seem simple, but it works. You have to have some incentive to help push you through those moments where you don’t want to work at all.

6. Prioritize Ruthlessly

Lastly, if you really are completely overwhelmed, you have to prioritize as well as group tasks. If you get emails all day long and they distract you from your work, go ahead and check your emails at certain times each day but not all day. If there is one client you have to respond to or one customer who has a question, prioritize that over other tasks. Studies show that you could lose up to 40% of your productivity by constantly switching between tasks so prioritize and complete a task before moving on to the next one. This will also help to energize you as you cross things off your to do list.

Catherine Alford is the go to personal finance expert for educated, aspirational moms who want to recapture their life passions, earn more, reach their goals, and take on a more active financial role in their families. Named the Best Contributor/Freelancer for Personal Finance in 2014, her writing and expertise have been featured in dozens of notable publications and in national media.